However, when we allow ourselves to believe we’re entitled to a life of utter convenience and comfort, it’s not that surprising that we have ended up in a situation where the declining standard of health is one of the biggest dangers facing our future.

Just like I said a while back that it’s not google making us stupid, it’s us making us stupid … the same goes for our obesity epidemic.

It might be nice to shift all the blame on to someone else.

It might be easy to say we’re just a pawn in big business’ evil game.

But rarely does something happen unless you want it to and taking notice when something terrible happens – whether to you or someone else – is a dangerous game to play.

As I said, I know there are external factors that influence our choices – and I absolutely appreciate there are socio-economic situations and conditions that impact many people’s lives – however I believe obesity is as much an attitude problem as it is a bad food problem so next time you see an escalator, take the stairs.

Oh, and before anyone says it, I know I am the last person on the planet who has the right to say this with a straight face … but nothing, not even seeing your 36 year old mate almost die a few weeks ago from a torn aorta, aneurysm and mini-strokes, changes your perspective like the impending birth of your first child.

Hell, the kid isn’t even born and he/she is changing my life … I’m doomed!

Well said Robert. But food companies have been known to exploit families with minimal income and that includes manipulating the price of healthy produce to make their products look better value. It is a similar approach alcohol companies used to make a pint of soft drink cost more than a pint of beer, yet they talk about drinking responsibly. Yes, it is a choice, but these companies know exactly what they are doing.

Your child has made more of an impression on you than the rest of us combined. You’re going to be an excellent father.

Fair point Lee – and I did say there were many factors that contribute to this situation, of which the way food companies target low income groups is one of them – I’m just saying that it has become a habit to find ways to blame others [especially companies & governments] for our faults and shortfalls rather than look at what we need to take responsibility for and act on it.

So while that doesn’t mean I feel sorry for the food companies that pile high sugar, salt & fat laden products – far from it – I’m not giving them 100% of the blame either.

Though yes, it did used to bug me a pint of diet coke with ice [no lemon] cost more than a pint of beer. But not as much as it used to bug my mates when they were paying me to be the designated driver on a night out. Ha.

To put Mr. Dodds mind at ease, that man whose walk has come to a halt is simply doing what every other motherfucker on the planet seems to be doing – checking his mobile in case he might miss something.

Hello Ciaran, lovely to hear from you. On the plus, at least the man stopped halfway had to do it on the side of the steps, unlike in Asia – where they stop at the top of the stairs/escalator and then mutter in disgust when people bump into them. [Though they still never look up]

On a more serious note, while I’m a strong believer in personal responsibility, the calories from eating rubbish overwhelm those burned through the kind of exercise within the realms of possibility for mere mortals.
I cycled 50 miles on Saturday morning, burning 2,000 calories – half of which would have been obliterated by one big Mac.
Even worse, calorie counting isn’t the answer, nor is just looking at fat – in fact, the poor bastards that followed government advice, took care of themselves, found it made naff all difference because the real enemy is sugar.
I guess I’m saying the answer is mostly education and people should get off their arses and move a bit, but it won’t solve obesity, a sensible approach to food will – which will be tough since the education for those engaged is totally flawed.

Very true, but I still think many people are quick to shout blame rather than make effort to address it personally. I know I sound like a bastard … and I’m certainly not discounting food companies and governments responsibility in all this … but we all have things we can do, even if it requires more people and pieces to line-up to truly make a difference.

Agree in that more people who know better should help – and I have no patience with folks who want their stomach stapled on the NHS, with one or two obvious exceptions.
It’s just that we’re seeing in the UK a younger generation that seem a whole lot more puritan about health and certainly booze, but with duff information getting in the way of useful action.
It’s like someone their age investigating music before 2000 because they believe (rightly) it was better and someone making them believe Queen is good

Not that I have anything against Queen.
By the way, I was serious about old music, I took part in some decent research for young folks and haven’t the foggiest why none of the squillions of brands ‘borrowing interest from music’ don’t provide some sort of guide, or at least house a conversation about exploring music before they were born
They might even discover Eye of the Tiger and start running up escalators